Process of treating zinc and lead ores.



No. 851,187. I PATENTBD APR. 23, 1907.

J. THELBERG. I A PROCESS GHTREATING ZINC AND LEAD ORBS.

" FILED JULY 16, 1902. RENEWED AUG. 23, 1906.

2 SHBETSSHEET 1.

ammmtoz No.'851.187 PATEN'TED APRPZS', 190v.

J. THELBERG. PROCESS OF TREATING ZINC AND LEAD ORES.

APPLICATION FILED JULYlG, 1902. RENEWED AUG.23,1906.

2SHEETS-SHBBT 2.

JOHN THELBERG, or NEW YORK; nix.

PROQEISSIIOF TREATING zmc AND LEAi: ones. a

' Application filed July 16,1902.

To all whom it'may concern: 1

- y Be it known that I, J OHN THE-LBERG, a citizen of the United States,residing at New.

York, in the county of ew York: and State of New York, have invented newand useful IIn rovements in Processes of Treating Zincan Lead Ores,'ofwhich thefollowing is a specification. Zinc andlead ores containing sul'hur treated for the purpose of producing t e volatile oxides and theircombinations, of the metals contained in' the ore, in a marketablestate,

are now commonly treated by mixing the coarsely powdered ore afterrevious' full or 1s needed, conslsts of limestone (carbonate of,

.lime) and coal or coke. sustained by an air blast; .The air,

partial roasting, with flux, w ich when lime efore passing through, thetuyeres into the furnace, is slightly heated by forcingit through an airspace, formed by.-a jacket over the top of the furnace. The volatilizedmetallic oxides passthrough an openinginthe top of the furnace togetherwith ashes, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, ammonia, etc.,

- through a flue into a settling and cooling room,where the ashes areseparated from the sublimed oxides, and gases, which. are then passedthrough. cooling pipesint-o so-called bag rooms, Where the impure oxidesaredepositedand separated from the gases,

which latter, including sulphur dioxide are disposed of throughso-called scrubbers or a tall chimney. J a The faults of the'methodslike the one outlined above for the manufacture of zinc and lead pigmentdirect from the ore's by oxidation, sublimation, etc.' which'l'obviateand eliminate by my invention are:

aThe necessity of previous fine crashing and roastia of the ore.

b The arge loss of zinc in the. slag. The slag from above mentionedfurnaces, usually contains 15% more or less of zinc. By allowing theslag to collect in the furnace and to run over and immerse art of the.ore,

'uantities of the ore are issolved-by the s ag, and carried off'withoutbeing oxidized, which means loss of the sulphuret dissolved; and ithasalso been found in the analyses of slag from these furnaces that zinc asoxide is carried away suspended in the slag, showing that the slagitself and the bottoms of these furnaces do not possess the necessarytem- Specification-of Letters Patent.

The combustion is IPatented;Apri123,1907. I

BenewedAuguat 23,1906, Serial No; 331,801,"

perature. oxid. e v r I efThe mixing of coal, coke or other fuel for thevolatiliz ation of the zinc 5 'unlth the ore in the ar'nace; the resultof whichis that part of t e recovered oxides are mixed with ashes, etc.and the remainder 6o contaminated with sulphides, soot, and other 7products of a more or less imperfect combustion, which make a" furtherrefining of the pigment necessary before it is marketable.

d-The results of contamination and d'llation of the gases byearhondioxide and other products of eombasttonpf the added fuel, and theewtraamount of nitrogen left from theair needed for the eombastioa ofthe fuel. By the necessity of adding fuel to the ore in the fur- 7onace. thereis obtained, after the volatile n1 e. tallic oxides havebeen-separated from the, gases, a mixture of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen,and gases of combustion of fuel, containing a large ercent. of carbondioxide which makes the su hur dioxide in this mixture unfit for themanuf cture of sulphuric acid. e The deleterious ejects of the presenceof elements -ofv'ed'aet'lon tn apro'cess which should bestmgleow'ldatton. In processes Where fuel is use in the furnace, freecarbon, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide being present, there aremixed reactions going. on resulting .in loss of heat, and uncertain andundesirable products that interfere with the proper work- 8 5 ing of thefurnace, making it extremely difficult to obtain a uniformproduct, whichproduct finally has to pass through a refining process under acompxratively high temper ature, the,management of which requires greatcare and experience to yield a final product in a marketable state.

f- The clogging of the flaes from the amace by the stntertng 'of theashes, etc. W 'ch in plants now in operation have to be cleaned 5 out atfrequent intervals, necessitating. cooling down of the furnace and plantconnected Wllillit.

To obviate the above, and, other objectionable features of the methodsnow in use, I too have invented the followin process for the treatmentof zinc and lead ore containing sulphur, with the view, in an economicalmanner, to directly convert the zinc and lead contained in the ores intomarketable pigment, 1o 5 and1 the sulphur into commercial sulphuric aciMy invent/ion consists of a process in which a superheated mixture ofsteam and air of a temperature'preferably about 2,000 Fah. is introducedbeneathand into a body of sulphid ore, containing zinc and lead or bothpreferably in lumps and mixed with the necessary flux, which if lime isneeded, consists ofthe pigment to obtain the mixture ofsul; phur dioxideand nitrogen, practically free I fromcarbon dioxide.

Thexn'ovel mechanism employed by me in carrying out my invention isfully described in: this specification, but not claimed and illustratedin. the accompanying drawings forming a part thereofin which:

Figurel is a vertical longitudinal section of'my apparatus. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section ofthe same. .tom ofthe cupola.

Like numerals-of reference designate like parts in the different viewsof the drawings.

The numerals 1 and 2 designate heat accumulators which are arranged tobe heated, and are each connected at the bottom by pipes 3 to somesource of steam and air under pressure. These accumulators 1' and 2 areconnected by pipes 5 and 6 respectively, to a pipe 6 connected-t0 a flue7 inthe bottom of a furnace 4. Valves5 and-6 are mounted 3 5 'in pipes-5and 6, respectively. By this arrangement' it is possible to employ oneaccumulator for superheating the mixture of steam-and air while theother is being heated.

The flue 7 extends transversely of the bot- 0' tom 8 of the furnace'andconstitutes part of thebottom of the cupola furnace, and-forms a" ridge9 from which the bottom 8 slopes on each side toward the inner ends oftwo downwardly inclinedslag discharge openings 10. 5 These openingsenable the furnace tobe .drained of all slag. The openings 11 in theflue 7 at or near the center of the bottom 8 of the furnace 4 arepreferably so constructed that they will. spread and direct the air cur-5o rent slightly downward to follow the bottomof the furnace in thedirection-of the slag discharge holes 10, 10 on their respective sides,

and longitudinal openings 11, 11 preferably curved to the line of. thebottom of thefurnace, one-at each end of the ridge 9 or highest part ofthe bottom of the furnace, close to the wall, preferably so constructedthat they direct the. air current from the sides horizontally toward thecenter, spreading towards the sides and parallel with the bottom.

Connected to the cupola 4 at a point near the top, is a flue 13, whichextends down.- wardly and is connected at its lower end .to a chamber14.

three compartments 15, 16, and 17. The

Fig. 3 is a detail of the bot The chamber 14 comprises.

compartment 16 is located intermediateto theconipartments 15 and 1.7,which are separated by vertical partitions 18. Pipes 19 connect thechambers 15 and 17 and traverse the chamber 16. These pipes serve to impede the movement of the particles .of ore.

dust, and thereby precipitate them tothe bottom of the chamber 16. Thesepipes 19 also serve to conduct gases from the chamber 15 to the chamber17 as will appear.

-A series of curved cooling pipes 22 are connected at one end to the topof the chamber' 14 and at their other ends'to a receptacle v 23. Ase'riesof inverted U-shaped cooling pipes 24 are also connected to thereceptacle A third series 26 30. 'Receptacles 42 are placed in the .com'

partment 31., and-serve to catch any precipie tate falling through thebags 32.

A pipe 33-is connected to the compartment 30 and divides intotwobranches 34 and 35.

The branch 34 extends up to the chamber 14- and is connected throughthe. compartment 15.' A- blower 36 is connected in the pipe 34 andserves'to accelerate the .movement of the gas through the pipe. Thebranch 35 extends up to thecupola 4 and is coupled,

to a curved pipe 37 which is connected to four t'uyeres 38 passingthrough the 'walls of the cupola 4 at a point above theoxidat-ionzone ofthe furnace. pipe 35 to accelerate the circulation.

A pipe40 is connected-to the compartment 17- and establishescommunication with a Glover acid tower-40 Where the sulphur dioxide. isconverted into sulphuric acid. A hopper 41 is mounted on top of a Ablower 39 is coupled to the IIO furnace'4 for use in introducingthecharge into the furnace. v

In operation I preferably have the bottom of the furnace 4 coveredin asuitable manner with a layerof refractory. material in the form ofbricks, brickwork or simply irre ular' pieces of'suitable size. .Acharge of sulphide ore containing either zinc or lead or both mixed withthe necessary flux, which if lime is needed consists of quick lime, andnot limestone, is then put in, and no fuel of any sort is-put into thecupola; the production of carbon dioxide is thereby wholly avoided.

This body of ore and fluxrests on the. re.- fractory material previouslyintroduced. I use this layer of refractory material to obtain a largerarea of contact,, and more perfect intermingling than would be otherwisepossible, of the mixture of superheated steam and air with the. slag orslag and fused, but not fully oxidized ore, as it runs. over andtrickles down through the 'interspaces in the layer of refractorymaterial. The oxidation of the zinc and lead is thereby rendered morecomplete, and "the percent. of loss in the slag of less volatile zincoxide greatly reduced. he mixture of superheated steam and air at about2000 Fah. is then admitted from one of the accumulators, say 1, andpasses through the pipe 5, through the pipe 6 into the flue 7 enters thecupola through the openheated by the fumes andjgases, that havepassedthrough it before,a lively combustion (oxidation) of the sulphur,zinc, lead and other metals accompanlying or forming the impurities ofthe ore, ta .es place by which a considerable elevation of temperatureresults,

which causes the volatiliz ation of the formed volatileoxy-combinations. By regulating the temperature of the steam andair,.and

. 3'0 flue 13 into the middle compartment of the.

' into the compartment 15 and throug r ot er suitable apparatus for theconversion of the sulphur dioxide into commercial sulphuric acld. Undercertain conditions or ac-' the proportions of each, I can vary thecomposition of the final pigment produced. \The volatilized oxides, sulhates and the gases will rise and pass out of tlie cupola and down thechamber 14 where they will expand, and cool and will come in contactwiththe outer sur- 'face. of the pipes 17, which will cause the 35mechanical impurities, such as ore dust, to be percipitated to thebottom of the chamber. From the chamber 14 the fumes and gases will passthrou' h the three series 22, 24 and 26 of cooling pipes and into theupper compartment 29 of the bag room 27.

From the compartment 29 the gases and fumes pass down into the bags 32.The fumes in the form of oxidesand sulphates will be precipitated andretained by the bags 32; but the gases will pass throu h the bags intothe middle compartment of die chamber 27, from whence they will escapevia the pipe 33.

' A part of the whole of the gases conslstlng of sulphur dioxide andnitrogen from the com A partment 30 after they are separated from thepigment are conveyed through the pipe 33 and forced by the b owerthroughthe p1 e 34 eating pipes 19 to be reheated, and through the pi e4:0 into the Glover acid tower 40 or any cording to the nature ef theore, a part of the mixture of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen from the pipe33 is conveyed through the pipe 35 and forced by the blower through thepipe 35:

and through the tuyeres 38 into the furnace 4,

. f orthe purpose of lowering and regulating the temperature above theoxidation zone in-thei furnace, so as to'partially or fully prevent thefusing in that part of the furnace of the ore or any component part, ofthe same before it enters the oxidizing zone 1n the furnace. From thebags 32 the separated pigment passes into the hoppers 42 in compartment31 from whence it is carried by a conveyor 43 to suitable kilns fordriving off Water, and other impurities, leaving a perfectly white-*pigment ready for market.

The different parts of the apparatus are gases and favorable conditionsfor obtaining a desired and constant ultimate easily regulated andmaintained.

While I haveparticularly set forth the construction and combination ofthe different parts of an apparatus, which is well fitted to carry outmy invention, the apparatus forms no art thereof, by way 0illustration.- Having described my invention, claim as new and desire tosecure by'Letter's Patent is: 3 y 1. The process of producing oxide andsul' phate of zmc and sulphate of sad which-consists in forcing asuperheated mixture of steam and air mto a body of virgin ore containingzinc sulphide or lead suldphide or both product, are

in a furnace, for the purpose an substantially as specified.

2. The process of producing a pigment from virgin ores contalmn zincsulphide or lead sulphide or both, which ing a layer of refractorymaterial onthe bot' tom of a furnace, charging the furnace with saidores, then forcing the superheated mixture of steam and' air through therefractory.

material from beneath into the chargein said furnace, which ignites andoxidizes the sulphur, zinc'and lead, then conveying the formedvolatilized oxide and sul hates, together with the gases, out of thefilrnace, cooling the gases, the volatilized oxide and sulphatesto asuitable temperature, and separating the condensed oxide and sulphatesfrom the gases, substantially as s eci'fied.

3. The herein escr'ibedprocess of treating virgin ores containinzincsulphide or lead sulbut is introduced only w at I consists-in pla c-T phide or bothfor t e purpose of producing oxide of zinc, sulphatesofzinc and lead and sul huric acid, which conslsts 1n forc1ng a supereated mixture of steam and alrlnto a body of suchore in a furnace, whichignites an'd oxidizes the sulphur,zinc and lead, the. con;

veying the volatilized sulpha'tes'and oxide, 1'

together with the gases out of the furnace,

cooling the gases, the volatilized oxide and sulphates to a suitabletemperature, separating the condensed zinc oxide and zinc and leadsulphates from the gases, and finally conveying the separated gases,consisting of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen, into any suitableapparatusfor the conversion of the sul hurdioxide into sulphuric acid,substantial y as shown and specified.

4. The art of producing oxide and sulphate of zinc and sulphate of leadwhich consists in the one act 'or step of forcing a superheated mixtureof steam and air into a body of virgin ore containing zinc sulphide orlead sulphide or both.

a quantity of uick lime, .which consists in forcing a super eatedmixture of steam and air therein. j 1

6. The art of producing white igments from Virgin ores containing zincsui phide or lead sulphide or both which consists n'charging afurnacewith said ores, add'ing a quantity of quick lime to the charge of ores,and then forcing. a superheated mixture of steam and air into thefurnace.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in'presence of twosubscribing wito IIGSSGS. p I i JOHN THELBERG.

Witnesses:

HENRY W. WANnLEss, i" E. S. SARGENT.

